Comparison of Different Microsurgery Methods for Trigeminal Neuralgia. Issue 3 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Zihang; Chen, Lin; Wang, Yan; Cui, Zhiqiang; Wang, Shijie; Ao, Qiang; Zhang, Yuqi; Zuo, Huancong
• Is Part Of: Brain science advances. Volume 2:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 183
• Page End: 187
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: trigeminal neuralgia -- microsurgery -- decompression -- rhizotomy -- destruction surgery; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; Medical innovations -- Periodicals; Medical innovations; Neurosciences; Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.18679/CN11-6030_R.2016.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2096-5958

Abstract

Objective: To study the influence of different microsurgical methods on surgical outcomes and complications, and to improve the surgical outcomes for trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: The clinical data of 109 patients with trigeminal neuralgia, who were treated with microsurgery, were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to surgical modality: the trigeminal neuralgia decompression group (TND group, 19 patients), the TND and rhizotomy group (rhizotomy group, 55 patients), and the TND and selective lesioning group (lesioning group, 35 patients). The mid-term and short-term effects of microsurgery, and the occurrences of complications, were compared between the 3 groups. Results: There were no statistical differences in the frequency of complications between the 3 groups (P > 0.05). Eighty-four patients were followed up for 6 to 33 months. The rate of pain disappearance was found to be 94.4% in the TND group, and 100% in both the rhizotomy and lesioning groups; thus, no significant differences were found between these 3 groups (P > 0.05). Additionally, 50% of the patients in the rhizotomy group and 3.6% of the patients in the lesioning group had facial numbness while no patients were affected with facial numbness in the TND group, and the differences between these 3 groups were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Microsurgery is effective and safe for trigeminal neuralgia. The use of TND, in combination with selective lesioning, ensures therapeutic efficacy and improves the quality of life in postoperative patients.